Nexus #100 Rude Dude Productions |
I was sent the ashcan of issue 99 a while back, and while I did give it its due praise in a review [review], I was a little put off by certain aspects of it, and confused by the events of a few pages as noted in a letter published in the back of issue 100. Admittedly, this confusion most likely came from the fact that I had never read a Nexus comic before and was completely unfamiliar with the work of Baron or Rude. So I was at a bit of a disadvantage in that respect. However, I still found the merit in the seemingly timeless quality of the book and the throw back to the classic style of comic storytelling.
Needless to say, I had high hopes for #100 as it would be a landmark issue and should answer some of the questions I had, and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I was rather impressed.
To say that the team of Baron and Rude is a talented one would be a huge understatement. There’s something special about a writer/artist team that knows how each other thinks and is able to translate that camaraderie and synergy to the page. Lee and Kirby had it. Evanier and Aragones had it. Even Bendis and Bagley had it. And Baron and Rude still have it.
I won’t ruin the issue by doing a typical recap as it is too special to waste review space on what you can probably read at a dozen sites. Instead, I’d like to touch on the magic and intricacy of the writing and art contained within. But first, just a small taste of what the book offers.
If you, like me, are unfamiliar with the world of Nexus, the very first page in the book is an instant recap of what took place prior. And I do mean instant! Short and to the point, but effective nevertheless. This is followed by a 23 page story that serves as Act 2 of the current storyline “Soap Opera”, and ends in a cliffhanger that works for non-fans, and is a treat to long-time fans of the property. Following this is several pages recounting the history of Nexus. Then we are treated with an 11 page watercolor story by Steve Rude, and finally we get to see what people thought of #99 in the letters column.
Breaking it down, the lead story in this issue follows on the heels of #99’s Act 1, but sees the action pick up. And rest assured, if you read my first review or my letter in the back of this issue, there was no confusion on my part in this issue, nor was I put off in the least bit. Instead, I completely embraced the beauty of what Nexus is and enjoyed what Baron and Rude offered the modern reader. While this book is told using classic storytelling methods from the writing, to the art, to even the lettering and coloring, it does so in a way that most titles aren’t able to pull off.
Many of us feel that a lot of the golden age and silver age books felt dumbed down with exposition in the form of narrative captions that told us what the art already showed us, and thought balloons that only served to further state the obvious. Baron, however, is able to utilize these elements without falling prey to any of those classic missteps. There are captions galore, and exposition, but all is well placed, intelligent, and never repetitive. Baron is also able to put so much into a single issue without it ever feeling crammed, rushed or disjointed. Everything flows perfectly from one scene to the next, and you’re never left with a sense of wanting, except for wanting the issue to continue to see what happens next.
Rude’s art is also a throwback to the classic stylings of a Kirby or Buscema, but with a modernized flare that shows his growth as an artist. His panel layouts are dynamic and always purposeful, his art is very pleasing to the eye, and his stylistic choices are unique and absurd in a good way. I can see why “The Dude’s” fan base is so large. He has a great eye and sensibility, and he truly appreciates and embraces this character and his world.
And that’s another thing about Nexus that captures me, which is the world Baron and Rude created. It’s out there, no one can deny that. But to fill this sci-fi/fantasy world with such colorful and diverse characters in the oddest combinations possible and make it work and seem realistic is a feat many have tried and many have failed, but Baron and Rude succeed and excel at. Add to that the political and religious undertones and climate, as well as references to the modern world, and then throw in the human/family drama that becomes the reluctant central aspect of the story, and you have a completeness that most books can only hope to achieve.
And I have to touch on the lettering for a moment as well. Todd Klein is well known in the world of lettering, and he is one of the greats in that field. And while I’m not as big a fan of hand-lettering or simulated hand-lettering as many of my contemporaries, I have to applaud and highlight the skills of Klein in this instance. Whether he used hand-lettering or digital-lettering in this book, the end result is the same, which is an infusion of the styles that could go either way. While I may have done some things differently, I have to bow to the creative genius that laid these letters out. From the masterful sound effects to the unique styles and colorings of the captions and balloons, to the creative placements throughout the book, Klein showed why he is one of the best in this book.
Even if the lead story was all that was in this issue it would have felt complete. But being a landmark issue, Rude Dude saw fit to add even more content as mentioned above. First, the history of Nexus recounting the teaming up of Baron and Rude and the four publishers the book went through over the years was an incredibly interesting read. It was written in an entertaining and informative manner, and not previously knowing the history of the book, was quite the compelling yarn for me personally.
Steve Rude’s water color story following this was also stunning, and I honestly wish he’d do more of it in the world of Nexus. I gather that he is modest about his water color skills, but truth be told, his water color skills are right up there with his penciling skills. I am learning, perhaps too late, that Steve Rude is one talented artist.
Add in the letters page where my comments somehow made it in unbeknownst to me until the day I am writing this and what you have is a breath of fresh air in a muggy, dark world that is comics today. While I’m not one that feels all comics should go back to done-in-one, happy adventures as I actually do like a lot of the mature direction classic favorites are taking, it’s still nice to see a title like Nexus that is able to merge the good from the old days with the good of today and bring to the table something different, unique, fresh, and yes, fun. Kudos to Rude Dude for making that leap.
Page last updated on March 22, 2008